Elon University officials hope to start a new master's program for science and math education in December 2013, according to David Cooper, dean of the School of Education.
The new program is still in the beginning phases of development and Cooper said he thinks a comprehensive proposal will be ready for review by the end of this semester. Drafting the proposal includes planning out the program in significant detail. The proposal outlines the courses students will take, the likelihood of students getting a job after completing the program, student teaching in public schools and research opportunities.
The education department, faculty, the Elon graduate council and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will then review the proposal, which can take several months.
A budget model for the program will also be developed. Cooper said he hopes the program will be eligible for federal grant money, especially since some students will be leaving full-time jobs to complete their master's degrees.
"An interesting challenge will be financing the program because some students might not be able to give up full-time salaries to come into the program," he said.
Scholarships will be offered to students during the 14 months they will be engaged in full-time study. The funding for those scholarships is still in the planning process.
Senior Jeff Serra, a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and mathematics with teacher licensure major, said the new program will expand his options after graduation.
"Right now the only school in North Carolina with a master's program in math education is NC State, so it would be nice to have another choice down the road," he said.
The master's program will be housed mainly in the School of Education and courses will be offered in various disciplines, such as chemistry, physics and biology. Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences will also offer courses for the program. Cooper said it is anticipated about 20 students will be enrolled in the program initially with hopes of expansion in future years. The program also looks to incorporate a study abroad program as part of the curriculum.
The development of the new program is a direct response to the chronic shortage of math, science, engineering, and technology educators across North Carolina and the country. Addressing this shortage is crucial to education, said Jan Mays, professor of mathematics and education.
"It is a continuing problem, especially in what we call the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and math," she said.
Traditionally, math and science degrees are employable in many different fields, according to Cooper. The incentive to teach is not high because working conditions and salaries for teachers are not ideal, he said.
"Teaching is darn hard work," Cooper said. "We want to retain teachers after their first year of teaching, the most crucial period when most teachers leave the field"